IMPHAL Oct 23: Black gram (locally known as Sagol Hawai amuba) T-9 variety has been successfully harvested for the first time at Sumchinvum village in Churachandpur district.
Farming of the Black Gram at Sumchinvum village was undertaken under the supervision and guidance of the monitoring and expert committee of the state agriculture department for the first time this year and it turned out to be a success.
Sumchinvum village was declared a model seed village for Black Gram by the state agriculture department few months back.
Besides Churachandpur district, the model seed village for Black Gram was also undertaken in two other districts that is Ukhrul, Senapati. State agriculture department is targeting to produce 800kgs of Black Gram at an area of ten hector.
The deputy director agriculture and soil chemist, Ph Rajendra disclosed this to reporters today during the successful harvest conducted at Sumchinvum model seed Village under Singhat sub-division.
G Samu Kabui, deputy director planning, of the agriculture department asserted that the department has started undertaking farming of various crops in the hill district of Manipur as a part of the modernization of Jhum Cultivation Plan Policy adding in view of the approaching Rabi season the department of agriculture is planning to pursue Rabi cropping in an area of 80,000 hector in five hill districts depending on Ph values.
Commissioner of agriculture Letkhogin Haokip, who was also present at today’s Black Gram harvest function said the initiative taken by department will to some extend enhance the economic status of the hill people who are basically a hand to mouth cultivators.
The successful harvest of Black Gram is a good indication for the farmers who can, during the off seasons, cultivate it and generate incomes. Moreover the state government has introduce a policy for purchasing Black Gram at the rate of Rs 80 per kilogram and subsequently the purchased crop will in turn distributed to the farmers during off seasons.
